Artists don’t always finish a painting when they think they will.

Sometimes a painting quietly waits.

This 18x14 oil painting began when I was first exploring the beauty and structure of roses. I enjoyed painting it, but something never felt quite complete. Rather than force the ending, I put it aside and moved on to other work.

Months later, I brought it back into the studio.

Looking at it with fresh eyes, I could immediately see what I wanted to change—not because the original was wrong, but because my own way of painting had continued to evolve. My brushwork had become softer, my colors more harmonious, and I found myself drawn toward creating more atmosphere and light. For me the process of creating is about spiritual growth and I believe my art needs to reflect that. I find that the painting process is about my relationship with God and I am so lucky to even be involved in this process.

I reworked the roses, refined the leaves, and transformed the background with a warm glow of golden light balanced by gentle violets. As the painting changed, so did its meaning.

The original title, The Drama of Roses, no longer seemed to fit. The finished painting speaks less about drama and more about hope, grace, and the quiet way living things naturally turn toward light.

That is why I renamed it Reaching for the Light.

One of the gifts of being an artist is realizing that growth isn’t always obvious while it’s happening. Sometimes it becomes visible only when you revisit something you created months—or even years—earlier. This painting became a reminder that both art and artists continue to grow.

Reaching for the Light is an original 18x14 oil painting and is now available through my FASO gallery.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

Kristen Ulla Grunewald